Stringed musical instrument



A ril 5, 1966 K. w. LUCKERT 3,

. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 22, 1965 jam/1% M United States Patent 0 3,244,053 STRl'NGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Karl Wilhelm Luckert, Abilene, Kans. (154 N. Sleight, Naperville, Ill. 60540) Filed Jan. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 427,252 4 Qlaims. (Cl. 84-464) My invention relates to stringed musical instruments; and the object is to provide an improved harp of the class usually placed in horizontal position upon a table, said class of harps having two intersecting sets of strings arranged in the consecutive order of the chromatic scale, played by drawing the finger or a plectrurn across certain strings which make up chords.

Heretofore as fas as I am aware such harps have had their strings fastened on both ends to a frame, thus the sound board has not been the direct recipient of the vibrating strings and could therefore amplify only what the heavy frame transferred to it. I have overcome this difliculty by introducing two sound boards each of which can [be placed in relation to one set of strings so that the strings pull with the grain of the wood.

Further, heretofore as far as I am aware such harps,

because of the fixed position of the two intersecting sets of strings, were rather bulky structures. I have overcome this problem by introducing two movable and with respect to strings independently functioning parts, thus the instrument can be reduced after playing to a portable size. With dividing said instrument into two movable parts there has resulted also the advantage that the player can readily adjust for himself the angle of intersection between the two sets of strings to where he can play best.

The drawing is a side view of my improved harp. Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 1 represents the point of a horizontal line of intersection where the two parts of the instrument intersect. This point of intersection may or may not be stationary; so for instance a slot 20 in the frame may allow the upper part of the instrument to be slid upward a few inches and result in easier playing of short strings; a similar slot in the lower part or" the instrument allows still further movability.

The lower part of the instrument rests on three removable legs 21. A sound chamber 3 extends between two side boards 15 16. At the far left of the drawing there is indicated as extending between said two side boards also the cross bar 11 which holds the tuning pins 1 3. The lower set of strings 9, corresponding to the white keys of a piano key board, are stretched from or over the bridge 7 on the sound board 5 over the bridge on the cross bar 11 to the tuning pins 13. The sound holes 10 are at the large end of the sound chamber, yet they may be located at any other place if desirable.

The upper part of the instrument fits between the side boards of the lower part; besides at the intersection said upper part is supported also by an adjustable and removable stick 1 9. A sound chamber 2 extends between two side boards 1-7 18. At the far left of the drawing there is indicated as extending between said two side boards also the cross bar 12 which holds the tuning pins 14.

3,244,053 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 The upper set of strings 8, corresponding to the black keys of a piano keyboard, are stretched from or over the bridge 6 on the sound board 4 over the bridge on the cross bar 12 to the tuning pins '14. The sound holes 10 are at the large end of the sound chamber, yet they may be located at any other place if desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. in a stringed musical instrument with two intersecting sets of strings, the combination with two sound chambers functioning independently of each other, one for each set of strings, with strings at one end stretched over or connected with the sound chambers, said strings fastened on their other end to tuning pins inserted into cross bars.

2. 'In a stringed musical instrument with two intersecting sets of strings, the combination with the instrument divided into two parts, each part accommodating one set of strings; said two parts attached to each other in the manner that the movement of one part in relation to the other situates the two sets of strings at various angles of intersection.

3. In a stringed musical instrument with two intersecting sets of strings, the combination with the instrument divided into two parts, each part accommodating one set of strings; said two parts attached to each other in the manner that the movement of one part in relation to the other situates the two sets of strings at various angles of intersection; said two sets of strings intersecting along a line which is itself movable to various points in relation to the sides of the two parts of the instrument.

4. In a stringed musical instrument with two intersecting sets of strings, the combination with the instrument divided into two parts, each part accommodating one set of strings; said two parts attached to each other in the manner that the movement of one part in relation to the other situates the two sets of strings at various angles of intersection; said two sets of strings intersecting along a line which may itself be made movable to various points in relation to the sides of the two parts of the instrument; with two sound chambers functioning independently of each other, one for each set of strings, with strings at one end stretched over or connected with the sound chambers, said strings fastened on their other end to tuning pins inserted into cross bars.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,706 8/ 1898 Schubert 84264 860,137 7/ 1907 'Inskeep 84173 X 878,006 2/ 1908 Johnson 84173 1,142,744 6/ 1915 A'udet 8426 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 125,593 1 1/ 1901 Germany.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

CHARLES M. OVERBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH TWO INTERSECTING SETS OF STRINGS, THE COMBINATION WITH TWO SOUND CHAMBERS FUNCTIONING INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER, ONE FOR EACH SET OF STRINGS, WITH STRINGS AT ONE END STRETCHED OVER OR CONNECTED WITH THE SOUND CHAMBERS, SAID STRINGS FASTENED ON THEIR OTHER END TO TUNING PINS INSERTED INTO CROSS BARS. 